Five Teams Shut Out of NFL Prime Time for 2025; Rest Disparity Reaches Historic Levels
No Prime-Time Slots for Titans, Dolphins, Cardinals, Raiders, and Jets
The NFL's initial 2025 schedule has excluded five teams from prime-time windows: the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets. This marks the first time since 2011 that five teams have been left off the national stage. Notably, none of these teams were given an "island game" in another window to compensate for the lack of exposure.
Heisman Winner Can't Buy a Spotlight
The Las Vegas Raiders' acquisition of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza—the No. 1 overall pick—did not secure them a prime-time slot. This is the second consecutive year that the team with the No. 1 quarterback pick has been excluded from the prime-time schedule. The Titans faced the same fate in 2024 after selecting Cam Ward first overall.
"Not to be flippant, but we don't draft our way into prime time. We play our way into prime time."
— Mike North, NFL Senior Vice President of Broadcast Planning
Extreme Rest Disparity Faces Chargers and Eagles
The 2025 schedule also reveals significant disparities in rest days between teams. The Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles each face four opponents coming off bye weeks, while 14 teams across the league face none. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams each have three such games.
Historic Disadvantage for Chargers
According to ESPN, the Chargers face a -22 rest-day differential versus their opponents. This is the largest disparity since the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles, who faced a -23 differential.